hermae. The Euganean Spas T A place of culture and well-being. www.veneto.to The Euganean Spas. The largest spa centre in Europe. “All the happiness of the Venetian character 3000 m. In the subsoil, the water runs for approximately 80 lies in its waters” km at high temperatures and under great pressure for Stendhal, 1817 an average of 25/30 years, becoming richer and richer in mineral salts. Reaching the Euganean spa basin, it returns to the surface at a temperature of 87°C, rich in Welcome to the Euganean spas, where the healthy, beneficial geothermal energy and dissolved substances that make waters have been flowing for more than three thousand years, bringing life to the largest spa centre in Europe. The Euganean spa waters belong to the category of deep underground waters, and their precious uniqueness is assured during its long journey upwards before reaching the Euganean lands. Renowned and appreciated since protohistoric times, today they are still a source of health and well-being. The meteoric water comes from the Lower Dolomites and from the Lessini mountains in the pre-Alps, flowing into the subsoil through the limestone to reach a depth of more than Abano Terme, monumental entrance to the Montirone. 2 Montegrotto Terme, Cathedral. it a unique thermal resource, the only one of its kind in are followed with the utmost attention and professionalism, the world. The beneficial strength of the water, which today in a comfortable, pleasant atmosphere. All the resorts have is scientifically classified as hyperthermal bromo-iodine-salt been classified with the “I Super” qualification issued by the water, has been used by man for centuries for therapeutic Italian Ministry of Health, which demonstrates the respect purposes, and lies at the root of all the most modern of the natural resources in the basin and the strict discipline therapies and aesthetic treatments carried out in the many in the use of the water in order to assure the conservation specialised spa hotels in the Euganean spa area: from of this incomparable natural resource. And on top of this, the balneotherapy to mud therapy, from hydrokinesitherapy constant commitment of the “Pietro d’Abano” Spa Study Centre, to inhalation treatments, and the widest range of beauty which carefully studies the main components of the spa waters and relaxation treatments. Each spa hotel offers indoor and carries out systematic research into spa medicine and and outdoor spa pools and a whole department dedicated the effects of mud therapy, to guarantee total quality in the to well-being and therapies, to ensure that all guests therapies carried out and their scientific and therapeutic values. The Euganean Spas in ancient times. “…The soft soil sighs, and closed beneath the boiling pumice the wave digs flaky roads. […] In its midst, like a widespread boiling sea, a blue lake extends, spinning greatly, covering an enormous area …” Claudian, Aponus, IV century AD With this troubling, supernatural vision, the poet Claudius Claudian describes the sacred lake that covered the area where the Euganean Spas now lie. In this territory, which at the time was mainly marshland and forest, boiling sulfureous spa waters sprang spontaneous in bubbling springs. An extraordinary phenomenon, considered divine in origin by the ancient Venetian people, so much so that as early as the VIII century BC religious ceremonies were held in the sacred lake, with sacrifices to the gods and baths offering benefits and good health. Above, Abano Terme, The building housing the “Therapy, holiday and tourism board”, decorative bas-reliefs (detail). Archaeological dig carried out at the turn of the 20th century that led to the discovery of thousands of ex voto, including chalices, cups, vases and bronze objects, all from the Paleovenetian era. Today most of these are displayed in the beautiful rooms of the National Atestino Museum in Este the Eremitani Civic Museum in Padua and the International Artistic Glass and Spa Museum in Montegrotto Terme. threw in golden dice to find out whether his destiny would be favourable in the battle with the Pannonians, an obligatory step to his accession to the Emperor’s throne. The dice were thrown, and both landed with the highest score upwards. Tiberius conquered the Pannonians and became Emperor The first water-divining activities became the cult of Aponus, (1st century AD). guardian god of springs, and added to this was the oracle of Gerion, who was consulted in order to know the future. From 49 BC, when Patavium and the neighbouring lands, According to the legend, when passing through Aponus’ including the Euganean Spas, became municipium, an upper land, Hercules founded the cult of Gerion, a mysterious god class of Romanised “Patavini” was formed, and wishing imprisoned in the bowels of the earth who prophesised the to emulate the upper classes of Rome they paid great future through a priest or priestess, guardians of the temple, importance to the spa waters, creating public baths and spa who were able to interpret the prophesies of the god through stations. The ancient lakeside sanctuary became a rich, the spa waters. Svetonius recounts that also young Tiberius multipurpose spa location, visited to revive both body invoked the sacred spa spring and, at the request of the oracle, and spirit. Around the spa baths, wide avenues, gardens, 4 fountains, libraries, conference and exhibition rooms, theatres and beautiful patrician villas were built, all well documented in archaeological findings. Many ancient literary sources also confirm the fame of the ‘fons Aponi’ during imperial times: the most important known to date is the poem “Aponus”, composed by the Alexandrian poet Claudius Claudian, following his visit to the area between 396 and 399 AD. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, also Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, was to enjoy the spa, as witnessed in his famous letter, in which he proclaims Abano as the “ornament of my realm, famous throughout the world”. 1 2 But at the end of the VI century, the Longobard hordes of 1 Montegrotto Terme, columns from Roman period in the gardens king Agilulfo stormed the town, sowing destruction and of the Hotel Terme Neroniane. ruin, and so the Euganean spas fell into oblivion for many 2 Montegrotto Terme, Hotel Terme Neroniane, hydropinic fountain centuries. Many archaeological testimonials remain of the decorated with ancient artefacts discovered during the digs prior to the construction of the spa hall. opulence of the ancient Roman spa, including the large 3 Montegrotto Terme, Hotel Terme Neroniane, archaeological area at Montegrotto Terme, the many detail of archaeological digs. findings on show at the Atestino National Museum at Este, the Eremitani Civic Museum in Padua and many ancient literary sources. 3 Well-being therapy. The extraordinary therapeutic properties of the spa waters are applied to a wide range of restorative and well-being treatments and programmes. Balneotherapy: involves the immersion of the body in a single tub filled with hot, ozone-enriched spa water. It facilitates the activities of the joints, makes movements smoother, relaxes the muscles, reduces pain. The intense vasodilating action stimulates the blood. Indicated above all for painful conditions and muscular atrophy, post-traumatic rehabilitation following traumas, fractures and surgery, chronic inflammation and skin conditions. Hydrokinesitherapy: uses the physical and chemical properties of the water in an ideal treatment for muscle deficit, to regain physical strength following surgery, and for those suffering from arthrosis. In addition to being natural and effective, it is also a fun, relaxing therapy that is done in the swimming pool. Mud therapy: spa mud is a clever combination of a solid component (clay), a liquid one (bromo-iodine salt water) and a biological one (micro organisms and biomaterials). The mature mud lies at the basis of mud therapy, which has four steps: application, spa water bath, sweat reaction and tonifying massage. It is an incomparable natural treatment that helps those suffering from osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Inhalation therapy: nebulized spa water helps all kinds of upper and lower respiratory conditions, and is effective in the prevention and curing of chronic illnesses. “Remise en forme” and beauty treatments: each resort is able to offer targeted remise en forme and beauty treatments. Expert and qualified staff will help you to recover lost energy, beauty and all-round well-being through massage, innovative treatments, a balanced diet and treatments using spa products. 7 Abano Terme. Today Abano Terme is one of the most famous spa resorts The entrance to the in Europe. Its large scale accommodation capacity, spread old spring, where across many hotels all equipped to offer special spa until the second half treatment services, holds the record of being the largest spa of the 1800s the town in the world. The city centre has a large pedestrian water still flowed precinct, filled with old and modern buildings, large hotels spontaneously at a with well-tended gardens, shops, bars and restaurants, and temperature of 80°C, the historical and monumental sights also include is marked by an early one of the most important testimonials of the Aponus spa, 19th century Montirone Hill. Corinthian colonnade and a mighty Doric column crowned by a Not to be missed. chalice wrapped in the coils of a snake, Montirone Hill: this small hill, once rich in naturally flowing designed by Giuseppe spa springs, was particularly dear to the ancient Patavini, who Jappelli in 1825 for in Roman times surrounded it with villas and spa stations. the visit of Emperor 1 Franz I of Austria. The two buildings either side of the entrance house the civic Montirone Art Gallery, with its collection of 15th - 20th century paintings, drawings and engravings, and the municipal Modern Art Gallery, which hosts temporary exhibitions.